Music Theory in HS--intro to music careers?

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>My DD is lucky enough to have a HS that offers two full years of Music Theory. I know nothing about theory. Neither is an AP course but developed by a long time teacher who told us she struggled when she first arrived at Ithaca with no theory experience.</p>

<p>Will theory introduce my daughter to other aspects of music, such as composition, technology or how Music Theory is used, say, in the study of Music Therapy? Being an "unmusical" family (besides daughter) we are relatively clueless except for what I've learned on this board. Will it be a huge red flag if she initially struggles? Her musical background lies in guitar lessons in 3-5 grade and then she picked up the Oboe. Within three months we were urged to get her private lessons, which she's had ever sense. A rising JR, I want her to know all of her options. Right now she wants to get a BM in performance, but I want her to be introduced to other music careers as well. She has spoke of law school, does law school like to accept those with a BM instead of a BS or BA? And if law school, she says it would not necessarily be toward a law field dealing with music, but wants to study performance in college. She has won awards and is an excellent player. And stubborn! We support her dream and travel outside the area for lessons and orchestra, still, being relatively rural (and even in a decent music HS) she is not being introduced to other music opportunities. I think she'd be great at something like SUNY Oneonta's Music Industry program but she wants to hear nothing of it. If not in theory, where do kids learn about such programs? </p>

2

<p>IMO, having music theory in HS will definitely help if a student goes on to a BM. Depending on the school, you may or may not place out of music theory classes with AP credit. My S was able to place out of the first 2 semesters of music theory with a 5 in AP Theory, but not all schools allow you to do that. I would also recommend piano lessons. My S was able to place out of all but the last semester of piano with only 2 years of formal instruction in hs. </p>

<p>As far as future careers go, I know people with BMs who have gone on to medical school, law school and business school - so I it won’t limit future careers. </p>

3

<p>I have read that people with music degrees have the highest admit rate, as a group, to medical school, compared to other majors. Don’t worry about grad or professional school right now. And students change their minds and their goals several times, which is not only normal but healthy.</p>

<p>Are you suggesting other types of music study (music industry, music therapy) because you are concerned about her ability to support herself? I don’t think you need to worry about that yet. Music majors can have any job that requires a bachelor’s and have access to grad school, as I said. </p>

<p>There are many ways to study music. She can major in performance for a BM in a conservatory or music school, or she can do a general music major at a college or university, for a BA, with or without a performance focus, and she can major in anything and do music privately (lessons) and outside of school (including as an extracurricular). My daughter applied to both a BM program and a BA program and decided in late April of senior year: things didn’t get clear until then and that was fine!</p>

<p>Peabody conservatory has a great essay on ways to study music: <a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html”>http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>As for high school theory, it can be really really helpful, yes, for all types of music study. Many students are even taking theory at a conservatory prep on the weekends. It will help her confidence during applications, when there are often placement tests at conservatories and music schools. It will help her confidence starting out in her coursework once on campus. But she should also be aware that often it is a good idea to start from the beginning once at conservatory or college: each school teaches it a little differently, and the theory classes are foundational and sequential.</p>

<p>Piano is important but honestly skills don’t have to be great. And many many music students don’t do wonderfully in theory, or like it much. Even PhD students teaching at top schools will tell you they didn’t do well in it. So don’t consider it a huge red flag if that is the case with your daughter.</p>

<p>She sounds like she has the drive to do this, and it’s great you are supporting her!</p>

<p>p.s.I highly recommend a book entitled “Classical Music for Dummies” if you want a basic approach to what theory is, and some handy little funny stories about composers as well! </p>

4

<p>My daughter is taking AP Music Theory this fall - she took Intro to Music Theory last fall. Students who have done well in this class have traditionally tested out of the first music theory classes in college, but her teacher recommends not skipping the classes offered, since they may have a different emphasis or the teacher may teach in a different way, and if not, it’s an easy A. Her music theory class introduced composition and arranging, as well as technology. </p>

5

<p>It certainly cannot hurt to take music theory, it is part of the BM track and it gives a taste of what some of it is like (most people assume BM means playing and practicing:). After taking it she could be in position to place out of some of the first classes in theory, though as others point out every school has different ways of teaching it, different tracks, so it could potentially difficult jumping into the track later on.</p>

<p>As far as being exposed to other areas of music, in a performance degree (BM) you won’t be exposed to the other areas much, if you mean music ed, therapy, etc, those are different specialties. I would be careful if she is thinking of majoring in performance, if she wants to head that way, of majoring in music ed or therapy or whatnot, those are different specialties and the training in performance is very, very different than in a BM. </p>

<p>As far as doing stuff other than music after a BM, as others have pointed out, people majoring in music, either BM or BA performance, BA in academic music, go on to a variety of fields, if she wants to go into law or other fields after getting a BM there is nothing to stop them from doing it. The only thing she might have to do is if for example, for law school they require certain classes , she might have to take them if she never did in school, but after that, should be doable. Evidence is that unique majors like music may weight heavily in admissions, that they may be looking for students taking a non traditional route. </p>

6

<p>Music Theory in high will only school help with any possible music major in college but it won’t necessarily lead to exploring music careers. Also, as musicprnt counsels, if she wants performance then she should go study at the best performance school and best teacher she can afford. All the other music majors such as therapy, ed and business will take time away from practicing with required courses in other fields. If she wants performance, she can always add on therapy, etc at the master’s level if she has money left for the master’s degree. </p>